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General Sports News

Barry opens Man City talks

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 02/06/2009

England international midfielder Gareth Barry looks set to leave Aston Villa this summer having opened talks with Manchester City.

The 28-year-old, who was linked with a transfer to Liverpool last summer, has 12 months left on his Villa Park contract but has spoken in the past about being keen to play Champions League football.

Although City will not be playing in Europe next term, a brief statement on Villa's official website read: "Aston Villa can confirm today that Gareth Barry is in talks with Manchester City."

Sunderland are on the verge of naming Steve Bruce as their new manager after agreeing a compensation package with Wigan Athletic.

The 48-year-old former Manchester United defender is currently on holiday in Portugal but is believed to be close to agreeing personal terms with the Black Cats.

Real Madrid have named Villarreal's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini as Juande Ramos' successor at the Bernabeu.

The 55-year-old, who has been in charge at El Madrigal since 2004, had 12 months left on his contract with the Yellow Submarine.

Villarreal have moved quickly to name former Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde as Pellegrini's successor.

Brazil international Kaka has reiterated his desire to remain at AC Milan despite fresh reports linking the 27-year-old with Chelsea and Real Madrid.

The Rossoneri's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, had admitted that the club would find it difficult to keep Kaka at the San Siro but the player has no doubt where he will be next season.

Kaka rejected the chance to join Manchester City in January while Carlo Ancelotti's appointment at Chelsea reignited rumours linking the midfielder with a switch to Stamford Bridge.

In rugby union, Bath trio Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins insist they had no option but to resign from the club.

The three players made their decision before they were to appear at an internal hearing into an alleged failure to take drug tests on three occasions.

But they insist "scurrilous and unsubstantiated allegations" forced them to leave the club.

Leigh Halfpenny has teamed up with the rest of the British & Irish Lions squad in South Africa after recovering from a thigh strain.

The 20-year-old Cardiff Blues winger had been sent back to his club last month by the Lions management to receive intensive treatment on the injury but was able to board a flight to South Africa on Monday evening.

In cricket, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has admitted that he is uncertain when he will return to action after knee surgery.

The 31-year-old is facing a race against time to be fit for the first Ashes Test in early July, but is hopeful of getting back on the field with Lancashire this month.

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